Person

PAGIATAKIS CHRISTINA

Positions:

Ricercatori a tempo determinato

Academic Department:

DIPARTIMENTO DI BIOTECNOLOGIE E SCIENZE DELLA VITA

Course Catalogue:

https://uninsubria.coursecatalogue.cineca.it/docen...

GSD

Gruppo 05/BIOS-04 - ANATOMIA, BIOLOGIA CELLULARE E BIOLOGIA DELLO SVILUPPO COMPARATE

Academic field (2024 version)

Settore BIOS-04/A - Anatomia, biologia cellulare e biologia dello sviluppo comparate

Contact
christina.pagiatakis@uninsubria.it

Overview

Dr. Pagiatakis’ research focuses on the cellular and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate cardiovascular function, with a particular emphasis on vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation and cardiomyocyte homeostasis under both physiological and stress conditions. During her PhD, she investigated the role of the transcription factor MEF2C in vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation and the Hippo signaling pathway in fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and vascular remodeling. As a postdoctoral fellow at the Humanitas Clinical Institute, Dr. Pagiatakis expanded her research to the epigenetic regulation of cardiomyocyte differentiation, maturation, and homeostasis. Her work focused on the histone methyltransferase EHMT2 (G9a) and its role in shaping the cardiomyocyte epigenetic landscape under both basal and stress conditions through MEF2C. She also explored how the Hippo signaling (TAZ) pathway modulates MEF2C and G9a activity in healthy and stressed hearts. In addition, she studied long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are critical for the cardiac stress response and the maintenance of cardiomyocyte homeostasis. Currently, her research centers on the role of histone modifications and epigenetic mechanisms in cardiac aging, with a focus on transcriptional programs that drive age-related functional changes. Following her work on the histone acetyltransferase p300 in regulating metabolic gene expression during cardiac aging, she is now investigating the epigenetic landscapes of multiple tissues during natural aging to better understand systemic mechanisms of age-related decline.

Attachment (CV)

CV_pagiatakis.pdf (CV_Pagiatakis)

Description

Posizione attuale
Ricercatore RTD tipo a, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria (01/03/2023 – in corso)

Formazione
•Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale a Professore di Fascia II in Anatomia Comparata e Citologia, MIUR, 17/03/2025 – in corso
•Dottorato di Ricerca in Biologia Cellulare, York University, Toronto, Canada (01/09/2008 – 13/02/2015)
•Laurea in Biochimica – Specialized Honours, York University, Toronto, Canada (01/09/2004 – 18/06/2008)

Esperienza Professionale
•RTD-A, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Varese, Italia (03/2023 – in corso)
•Post-Doc, IRCCS Humanitas, Milano, Italia (09/2015 – 02/2023)
•Research Fellow, York University, Toronto, Canada (02/2015 – 08/2015)
•PhD Student, York University, Toronto, Canada (09/2008 – 02/2015)
•BSc Honours Thesis, York University, Toronto, Canada (04/2007 – 12/2007)

Attività Didattica
•Anatomia Comparata, Corso di Laurea in Biotecnologie, Università dell’Insubria (2023–in corso)
•Citologia e Istologia (Laboratorio), Corso di Laurea in Scienze Biologiche, Università dell’Insubria (2022–2025)
•Citologia e Istologia, Corso di Laurea in Biotecnologie, Università dell’Insubria (2025–in corso)

Attività di Ricerca
La Dr.ssa Pagiatakis si occupa di meccanismi cellulari ed epigenetici nel sistema cardiovascolare, con particolare attenzione a:
•Differenziamento delle cellule muscolari lisce vascolari e transizione fibroblasto–miofibroblasto, con coinvolgimento dei pathway Hippo e TGFβ-TAZ/SRF.
•Differenziamento, maturazione e omeostasi dei cardiomiociti, con focus su fattori trascrizionali (MEF2C e TAZ), enzimi epigenetici (EHMT2/G9a, p300), modifiche istoniche e lncRNA, sia in condizioni fisiologiche che di stress.
•Invecchiamento cardiaco e muscolare, analizzando processi epigenetici e trascrizionali responsabili del declino funzionale legato all’età.

Finanziamenti
•FAR 2023: Epigenetic regulation of cardiac hypertrophy: understanding the role of TAZ (€25.000)
•Assegno Post-Doc 2024: The lincRNA Chheaf-1 controls cardiomyocyte homeostasis by epigenetically regulating the promoter of Rtn4 (€19.367)

Pubblicazioni Selezionati
Serio S*, Pagiatakis C*, Musolino E, Felicetta A, Carullo P, Laura Frances J, Papa L, Rozzi G, Salvarani N, Miragoli M, Gornati R, Bernardini G, Condorelli G, Papait R. Cardiac Aging Is Promoted by Pseudohypoxia Increasing p300-Induced Glycolysis. Circ Res. 2023;133(8):687–703. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.322676. Shared First Authorship

Laura Francés J, Musolino E, Papait R, Pagiatakis C*. Non-Coding RNAs in Cell-to-Cell Communication: Exploiting Physiological Mechanisms as Therapeutic Targets in Cardiovascular Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(3):2205. doi: 10.3390/ijms24032205. Corresponding Author, First Author Contribution

Gamberoni F, Borgese M, Pagiatakis C, Armenia I, Grazù V, Gornati R, Serio S, Papait R, Bernardini G. Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with and without Cobalt Functionalization Provoke Changes in the Transcription Profile via Epigenetic Modulation of Enhancer Activity. Nano Lett. 2023;23(19):9151–9159. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01967.

Pagiatakis C, Sun D, Tobin SW, Miyake T, McDermott JC. TGFβ-TAZ/SRF signalling regulates vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation. FEBS J. 2017;284(11):1644–1656. doi: 10.1111/febs.14070.

Papait R*, Serio S*, Pagiatakis C*, Rusconi F, Carullo P, Mazzola M, Salvarani N, Miragoli M, Condorelli G. Histone methyltransferase G9a is required for cardiomyocyte homeostasis and hypertrophy. Circulation. 2017;136(13):1233–1246. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.028561. Shared First Authorship

Partecipazione a Congressi e Seminari Selezionati
10–13 giugno 2025 – 70° Convegno GEI – Gruppo Embriologico Italiano, Italia
Comunicazione orale: Exploring Epigenetic Regulation in the Aging Process: Insights and Implications

1–14 giugno 2024 – 69° Convegno GEI – Gruppo Embriologico Italiano, Italia
Comunicazione orale: Epigenetic Regulation of Enhancers Regulating Aging

15 gennaio 2024 – COST Action – AtheroNet, Italia
Comunicazione orale: Cardiac Aging Is Promoted by Pseudohypoxia Increasing p300-Induced Glycolysis

5–8 giugno 2023 – 68° Convegno GEI – Gruppo Embriologico Italiano, Italia
Comunicazione orale: The Role of TAZ in the Epigenetic Maintenance of Cardiomyocyte Homeostasis

12 settembre 2021 – TRAINHEART, Marie Curie Expert Teaching Lectures, Milano, Italia
Comunicazione orale: Epigenetics and Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms Involved in Cardiomyocyte Homeostasis and Hypertrophy

26–31 maggio 2019 – Epigenetic Regulation of Cardiovascular Disease; Chromatin Signaling in Heart and Vascular Diseases; Gordon Research Conference, Hong Kong
Comunicazione orale selezionata: TAZ: A New Player in the Epigenetic Regulation of Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy
Poster: Novel Mechanisms Regulating the Epigenetic Landscape of Hypertrophic Cardiomyocytes

Attività Editoriale
•Review Editor: Cardiovascular Biologics and Regenerative Medicine (Frontiers)
•Guest Associate Editor: Integrative Physiology (Frontiers)
•Reviewer per: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, American Journal of Hypertension, Int J Mol Sci, Cardiovascular Research, Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Concepts (7)

ATECO

72.11.00 - Ricerca e sviluppo sperimentale nel campo delle biotecnologie

ERC field

LS1_4 - Protein biology - (2024)

LS2_13 - Systems biology - (2024)

LS2_3 - Epigenetics - (2024)

LS3_2 - Cell senescence, cell death, autophagy, cell ageing - (2024)

LS4_10 - The cardiovascular system and cardiovascular diseases - (2024)

LS4_3 - Physiology of ageing - (2024)

Keywords (7)

Ageing

CELL DIFFERENTIATION, PHYSIOLOGY AND DYNAMICS

Cardiovascular disease prevention

Epigenetics

Epigenetics and gene regulation

MALATTIE CARDIOVASCOLARI

Skeletal muscle

No Results Found

Overview (4)

Epigenetic mechanisms of ageing and muscle tissue function. Study of epigenetic mechanisms and histone modifications regulating transcriptional changes associated with systemic ageing, with particular focus on processes of functional adaptation and decline in muscle tissues. The research specifically addresses cardiac ageing and skeletal muscle ageing, investigating the contribution of histone modifications to the metabolic and functional remodeling that characterizes these tissues. The experimental approach integrates large-scale genomic methodologies, including RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, with functional analyses to define the molecular mechanisms underlying muscle ageing.

Epigenetic regulation of cardiac development, homeostasis, and disease by long non-coding RNAs. Study of epigenetic mechanisms mediated by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the regulation of cardiac development and the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis, as well as in the progression of cardiac disease. The research focuses on the role of lncRNAs in controlling transcriptional and chromatin-based regulatory networks underlying pathological cardiac hypertrophy and the transition to heart failure. These studies integrate transcriptomic and epigenomic approaches, including RNA-seq and chromatin-based analyses, with functional assays to define the contribution of lncRNA-driven epigenetic regulation to cardiac remodelling and dysfunction.

Epigenetics of cardiomyocyte differentiation and maturation and the cardiac response to stress. Study of epigenetic mechanisms and histone modifications regulating cardiomyocyte differentiation and maturation, the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis, and the response to stress and hypertrophy. This research integrates large-scale genomic approaches (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq) with classical methods in cardiac biology and physiology, with particular focus on the role of the histone methyltransferase G9a and the transcription factors MEF2C and TAZ in the regulation of cardiac function.

Regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation and fibroblast activation in cardiovascular remodelling. Study of the role of the transcription factor MEF2C in vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation, with particular emphasis on the integration of calcium-dependent signalling pathways and transcriptional programs controlling smooth muscle plasticity and function. In parallel, investigation of the Hippo signalling pathway in the regulation of fibroblast activation and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, including its crosstalk with TGF-β signalling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition–like processes that contribute to vascular remodelling and fibrosis.

No Results Found

Other research activities (2)

Defining the Therapeutic Potential of the eRNA PAMR in Ageing-related Cardiac Dysfunction

Progetti di Ricerca Nazionali - Altri Enti Pubblici

Project

participant

2024

16 months

Epigenetic regulation of cardiac hypertrophy: understanding the role of TAZ

Progetti interamente finanziati dall'Ateneo

Project

Scientific Manager

2024

23 months

No Results Found

Publications (30)

Fellowship

fs2 – Socio/a effettivo o corrispondente - Gruppo Embriologico Italiano - Società Italiana di Biologia dello Sviluppo e della Cellula (GEI-SIBSC) (Italia) (2023 - )

No Results Found

Editorial Board (2)

Membro del Comitato Editoriale - FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE - ISSN: 2297-055X - Lausanne: Frontiers Media S.A., 2014- (2023 - )

Guest Editor di rivista o collana editoriale - FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE - ISSN: 2297-055X - Lausanne: Frontiers Media S.A., 2014- (2022 - 2023)

No Results Found

Research and teaching at institutions (2)

Position carried out at: Università degli Studi INSUBRIA Varese-Como - Ricercatore/Ricercatrice universitario a t.d. (31/05/2024 - 29/02/2028)

Position carried out at: Università degli Studi INSUBRIA Varese-Como - Ricercatore/Ricercatrice universitario a t.d. (01/03/2023 - 30/05/2024)

No Results Found

Research Network

COST Action AtheroNET - COST Action AtheroNET (CA21153) è una rete di cooperazione scientifica europea finanziata dal programma COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), focalizzata sull’implementazione di approcci multi-omici integrati nella prevenzione e nello studio delle malattie cardiovascolari aterosclerotiche. L’azione riunisce ricercatori clinici e di base, bioinformatici e data scientists con l’obiettivo di favorire la standardizzazione delle metodologie, la condivisione dei dati e lo sviluppo di strategie innovative, inclusi modelli predittivi e strumenti di intelligenza artificiale. AtheroNET promuove attivamente attività di networking, formazione e mobilità internazionale, con particolare attenzione al coinvolgimento dei giovani ricercatori e al rafforzamento della collaborazione interdisciplinare a livello europeo. (19/03/2024 - )

No Results Found

Tutoring (3)

tutorship - Assegnisti/e - GAMBERONI FEDERICA

tutorship - Assegnisti/e - SADIA SOBIA

tutorship - Dottorandi/e - MANAHIL HAJRA

No Results Found

Agreement Management

Responsabilita' accordo per ricerca - HUMANITAS University (01/03/2023 - )

No Results Found

Supervision of external doctoral students or post-docs (2)

Dottorando - Fabrizio Gianferro - HUMANITAS University - (01/12/2023 - )

Dottorando - Javier Laura Frances - HUMANITAS University - (01/11/2019 - 02/03/2023)

Courses (6)

SCV0399 - CYTOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY

Primo Semestre (28/09/2025 - 16/01/2026) - 2025

9 CFU

76 hours